90% of Mozambicans prefer Mother Language to Portuguese

Portuguese became the official language of Mozambique shortly after independence in 1975, but 90 percent of Mozambicans use another language as their mother tongue.According to world language catalogue Ethnologue, Mozambique has 43 languages, including Portuguese and sign language, although the Mozambican Language Studies Unit only recognizes 22.Manica-born RFI journalist Celestina Jose knows what it’s like. “In my family we speak two national languages: Cibalke and Cinyungwe”. According to Jose, a Mozambican will probably study, work or live with Mozambicans who speak a national language, and the tendency is always “to learn, so as not be excluded from the group.”In the 2007 census, 25 percent of the population put Emakhuwa as their mother tongue, making it the most widely spoken in the country.Abenito Nhamucho is a fruit vendor in the capital. He was born in Inhambane province. With his family, he speaks Emakhuwa, the language he learned as a child. “At home with my brother, my uncle and my nephew, we just use our mother tongue.”When it comes to linguistic diversity, Radio Mozambique is something of a poster boy. Created in 1975, the state-owned broadcaster transmits in Portuguese, English and 19 other national languages.According to Mozambican-languages director António Ndapassoa, with illiteracy in the country at 80 percent at the time of independence, “it was necessary to ensure the flow of information to the people” and use language they could understand.Radio content is produced at the headquarters in Maputo and the ten stations in the provinces. “The information, when it is produced, is delivered to professionals who translate content into the various languages,” the director says.